south africa medical requirements

[thefly]

Hi,

I am thinking of doing my pilot studies in South Africa.

I have already obtained a first class medical from the UK (CAA Gatwick).
Will i be required to do another medical in SA or will my present certificate be OK?

Thanks

[Irishwingz]

You will need a South African CAA medical certificate which you could get here in the UK but I recommend you get in when you arrive in SA. It will be cheaper and as you already have the UK Class 1 you should get the SA one no problem.

Enjoy SA, a great place for training. The conversion of the SA ATPL to JAA ATPL is expensive and lengthy so make sure you have researched that too.

[cavortingcheetah]

The South African DCA/CAA has always been rather neurotic concerning medicals. At one time they were done by the military at MMI. The situation is a little better now.
I am sure that you will be required to undergo a full South African medical which includes a stress ECG. You may also have to put up with the fickle finger prostate check, although I believe that this is not now an absolute requirement. The last medical I did down there the doctor said that he offered this as a service. I declined, having recently had a PSA check.
If you are flying down to Johannesburg, give yourself a day or two after arrival to acclimatise to the altitude and to allow your blood pressure and urine to stabilise. For example, sitting cramped up in an aircraft seat can throw out a temporary blood trace and dehydration can lead to a protein indication, neither of which you want on an initial medical.
I think that on the SA CAA website you will find a list of medical practitioners who can undertake the initial. The system is not as user friendly by any means as is the CAA medical section in the UK.

[thefly]

Thanks for the quick response.
Very much appreciated.